2 Much Live Music: Monolink, International Travels Fill Fun February 2026

The night after I returned from my aforementioned trip, I made my way over to The Wiltern for a pleasant jolt of serotonin, courtesy of Monolink.

The German singer-songwriter-producer has been a personal favorite of mine since 2019, when my friends first introduced me to his music at Lightning in a Bottle in Bakersfield. His ability to command the stage as a one-man band with an understated, gracious personality makes stand out.

Even more so with how he combines more traditional instrumentation (i.e. guitar and keys) with electronic decks through a litany of loops.

Monolink’s all-around talents were on full display in front of a sold-out crowd at The Wiltern. He opened the show in front of a curtain — just a musician and his keyboard — before transitioning into a DoLab-produced setup that included his electronic terminals, a trio of suspended boulders that acted as projection screens, and a slew of other slick visual tricks.

The first half of the set was comprised entirely of tracks from Monolink’s latest album, 2025’s The Beauty Of It All. Those songs — led off the top by “Call of the Void,” “Beacon” and “Promised Land” — laid the foundation of a show that would take on a more personal touch later on.

In between established standards like “Otherside,” “Sirens,” and “Light Up My Dark,” the artist otherwise known as Steffen Linck was in awe over performing at The Wiltern, expressed his gratitude for the people of Los Angeles, and even went into the crowd to greet his Burning Man camp.

It was the kind of heart and warmth that has come to not only characterize Monolink’s live shows, but make him a beloved performer around the world.

The same goes for his encore, which ensured that his fans would get to dance to “Father Ocean” and the ARTBAT remix of “Return of Oz” before heading into the night.

If you haven’t yet seen Monolink on this tour, you’re still in luck — so long as you can catch him in the Pacific Northwest this week, various destinations around Asia in early April, or at festivals across South America and Europe into the summer.

Check out Monolink’s website for a complete list of upcoming dates.

As for the (predominant) portion of February, that all began in Thailand.

During the first week, I solo-hopped around the islands of Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan, and Ko Tao. I avoided riding on motorbikes like The Plague (Road rash? No, thank you!). Other than that, I was there to take it all in.

I made friends with hostel mates from all over the world, stuffed myself with fresh local fare — from mango smoothies and traditional Thai dishes, to whole fish (steamed and fried) — and did as much scuba diving (and went for as many massages) as I could handle.

Those trends continued unabated once I met up with friends on the north side of Ko Pha Ngan — along with bubble teas during the day and 7-11 desserts at night.

From there, it was on to Bangkok, with some side quests en route. First came a quick pitstop in Phetchaburi, followed by an evening at KG House in Kanchanaburi. The views of the River Kwai were nothing short of stunning, whether paddleboarding on the water or dining on the deck of a river cottage.

After that came a visit to the Somboon Legacy Foundation, where my friend Wednesday and I got to observe and learn about elephants in captivity. Rather than bathe and feed the elephants by hand — which, as we learned, is both highly unethical and stress-inducing for the animals — we watched these majestic creatures from afar as they went about their daily business, with some assistance from their mahouts (elephant keepers).

All three of the elephants onsite were put to work and abused before arriving at Somboon. Yet, each one continues on in comfort and grace, including Malee, who is well into 90s — far past the typical life span for even a wild elephant.

Finally, we arrived in Bangkok for two nights (and most of another day) of eating, eating, and more eating. Never had I felt as much like I was living inside an episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations as I did while wandering through the city’s famed Chinatown on Yaowarat Road.

Amid all the grubbing, there were breathtaking Buddhist temples to explore, night markets to scour for souvenirs, and many more 7-11’s… seemingly on every corner of the city.

Before saying goodbye to Thailand, I insisted on one last meal to remember: Chinese dim sum. We wandered over to Laoteng in Yaowarat and feasted on more shrimp dishes than even Forrest Gump could imagine, including some sensational chewy-crunchy shrimp rolls.

My visit to Australia was relatively short, but no less sweet.

Over the course of five days, I got to see and enjoy so many of the wonders (natural and otherwise) of Byron Bay and its neighbors, Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads.

A swim in a tea tree lake in Tyagarah Nature Reserve — wherein warm water at the surface gave way to colder currents mere inches below — was both mind-bending and soul-healing. For all the times my nose was stung by the steam of tea tree oil as a remedy for nasal congestion during my childhood, it was nice to have a pleasant and playful experience involving the same extract.

I also had the pleasure of scuba diving and surfing in nearly the same waters in Byron Bay. The former gave way to a brilliant array of sharks, turtles, and rays (including a massive Manta ray), along with scores of colorful fish fighting the current right next to us humans out at Nguthungulli Julian Rocks Nature Reserve. The latter, meanwhile, presented pristine conditions for a bit of beginner’s surf right near the shore.

When we weren’t in the water, you could usually find us hanging out with musicians and fire spinners at The Arts Factory in Byron, or grubbing on late-night pies and sweets at Hotbread After Hours.

As tidy a time as I spent in New South Wales, I felt like I managed to maximize my time while leaving with a notion to return for more adventures…

I had a hunch that New Zealand would be fitting as the grand finale of this trip. Little did I know how truly spectacular this country would turn out to be.

(And that was just on the North Island! Everyone I met there insisted the South Island is more breathtaking by orders of magnitude.)

I spent the bulk of my stay in Napier/Ahuriri, from which some Coachella friends of mine hail and where some still live. Usually a sleepy port town, Napier was transformed on the weekend I arrived. All around were tourists in Gatsby-approved garb who’d come for the annual Art Deco Festival.

Why Art Deco? In 1931, Napier was leveled by a massive earthquake. The town subsequently rebuilt on an additional 40 square kilometers of land that had been pushed up by said earthquake. All of the new structures was designed and built in the Art Deco style, which was fashionable at the time. Nowadays, local laws require all buildings (at least in the main part of town) to maintain that same Art Deco style.

Thus, the festival is less a rollick for dandies than a celebration of Napier’s bittersweet history, centered around the seismic event that literally made the town what it is today.

After three days of town tours, waterfalls, surfing, pizza, and fish and chips, I bade farewell to my friends in Napier and started on a two-day solo road trip up to Auckland.

Along the way, I packed in as many of the country’s natural wonders as I could, while taking in the pastoral farmlands and lush landscapes in between each one.

But first, I bungee’d off of a 154-foot-tall platform overlooking the Waikato River in Taupo. Shoutout to AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand for an awesome (and safe!) experience.

That jump gave me just the jolt I needed to bound through a bunchof sites — from Huka Falls and Craters of the Moon near Taupo, to Hot’n’Cold, Kerosene Creek, Rainbow Mountain, Waipa Outlook, and a forest of California redwood trees around Rotorua.

And that was just one day, which ended with sunset over Lake Rotorua (accompanied by a bevy of black swans) followed by a night walk through the redwoods of Whakarewarewa Forest.

The final full day of not only my time in New Zealand, but also my entire trip began bright and early.

I went for a morning stroll around the mud pools at Kuirau Park, with a quick dip into the public foot baths. I then hustled west to Waitomo, where I got to witness thousands of glowworms light up the interior of pitch-black caves; then on to Raglan, where dark-sand beach vibes abound, with a bonus stop at Lake Ngaroto; followed by a visit to Waireinga/Bridal Veil Falls.

Even then, I had enough time to tool around Auckland a bit. I tried traditional Maori cuisine at The Hangi Shop in Otahuhu and visited Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill before a proper sendoff that night along the Viaduct Harbour.

All told, New Zealand was a captivating collection of natural phenomena, steeped in the quiet (and sometimes not-so-quiet) tension between its indigenous and colonial pasts.

It is a place I sincerely hope to return to sooner rather than later. The same goes for Australia and Thailand.

And now, I reckon, the rest of the world awaits.

I had to incorporate my international trip into The Charcoal Club, however I could. That meant shouting out the only person who both hails from any of the countries I recently visited and has been “inducted".”

Kevin Parker (a.k.a. Tame Impala) and Stephen Bruner (a.k.a. Thundercat came together to release the song “No More Lies” in the spring of 2023. Later that year, they shocked a sold-out Greek Theatre in L.A. when Parker came out as the last in a long line of surprise guests during Thundercat’s homecoming show.

Fortunately, I had a camera on hand to capture a bit of this budding “bromance,” which I’ve since brought back to life with white charcoal on black paper.

Visit my Etsy shop for merch featuring these two legends, including the framed original.

For all the latest updates, follow The Charcoal Club on Instagram, TikTok, X, Threads and Facebook.

(Also, if you’re interested in commissioning me for a custom piece, please reach out! A direct reply to this email will do.)

The Swedish pop star swings into L.A. for two nights of “Lush Life” and more.

The Illinois-based bass producer brings his wealth of womps and wubs to Las Vegas for a three-weekend residency inside the world’s most futuristic venue. Minds are bound to be blown — and ears blown out — by this audio-visual spectacle.

Koreatown residents are sure to keep dancing to these London-based funk lords, who figure to be busy Chewing The Fat.

Whenever the world is topsy-turvy, Eugene Hutz and company are sure to turn up with new music and the same, old rambunctious style on the road. Expect plenty of protest songs and popped wine bottles in DTLA during the first Saturday night of the month.

For a quieter, folksier, more contemplative time, check out this 26-year-old Georgia native, who’s still riding high from his first Billboard No. 1 with “God Needs The Devil.”

The dynamic duo of Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter return to their adopted hometown — this time, for a trio of intimate shows at a legendary venue.

The metal-tinged jam band from South Bend makes its annual pilgrimage to L.A. — this time, with new drummer Scotty Zwang in tow for the first time.

Lech Wierzynski’s troupe returns to The Bellwether for a night of blues and R&B, NorCal style.

Gorillaz fans can tour an exhibition of the animated band’s fabled home — a visual snack to satiate until Damon Albarn and company return to the L.A. area for an arena show at the Kia Forum on October 24.

The singer-guitarist steps out from Joe Russo’s Almost Dead to chart his own course as a solo artist.

Whether at The Belasco, The United Theater on Broadway, or The Majestic Ventura Theater, the Wilco frontman will have no shortage of indie classics with which to fill his setlists.

The guitarist and co-songwriter from The Smiths reprises his solo act in the cozy confines of Highland Park’s beloved upstairs venue.

The legendary guitarist of The Doors celebrates his 80th birthday on the Sunset Strip.

Deadheads, rejoice! Jerry Garcia’s beloved catalog will get plenty of play, courtesy of Melvin Seals, a JGB original; and John Kadlecik, formerly of Dark Star Orchestra.